This Article Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bandura, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bandura, A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Moral Disengagement in the Perpetration of Inhumanities

Department of Psychology, Stanford University

Moral agency is manifested in both the power to refrain from behaving inhumanely and the proactive power to behave humanely. Moral agency is embedded in a broader sociocognitive self theory encompassing self-organizing, proactive, self-reflective, and self-regulatory mechanisms rooted in personal standards linked to self-sanctions. The self-regulatory mechanisms governing moral conduct do not come into play unless they are activated, and there are many psychosocial maneuvers by which moral self-sanctions are selectively disengaged from inhumane conduct. The moral disengagement may center on the cognitive restructuring of inhumane conduct into a benign or worthy one by moral justification, sanitizing language, and advantageous comparison; disavowal of a sense of personal agency by diffusion or displacement of responsibility; disregarding or minimizing the injurious effects of one 's actions; and attribution of blame to, and dehumanization of those who are victimized. Many inhumanities operate through a supportive network of legitimate enterprises run by otherwise considerate people who contribute to destructive activities by disconnected subdivision of functions and diffusion of responsibility. Given the many mechanisms for disengaging moral control, civilized life requires, in addition to humane personal standards, safeguards built into social systems that uphold compassionate behavior and renounce cruelty.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. P. Kiriakidis Moral Disengagement: Relation to Delinquency and Independence From Indices of Social Dysfunction Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, October 1, 2008; 52(5): 571 - 583. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Weimann The Psychology of Mass-Mediated Terrorism American Behavioral Scientist, September 1, 2008; 52(1): 69 - 86. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. H. Howard, R. Shegog, J. Grussendorf, L. J. Benjamins, D. Stelzig, and A. L. McAlister www.PeaceTest.org: Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Web-Based War-Prevention Program in a Time of War Journal of Peace Research, September 1, 2007; 44(5): 559 - 571. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. T. Hinrichs Follower Propensity to Commit Crimes of Obedience: The Role of Leadership Beliefs Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, August 1, 2007; 14(1): 69 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. K. Trevino, G. R. Weaver, and S. J. Reynolds Behavioral Ethics in Organizations: A Review Journal of Management, December 1, 2006; 32(6): 951 - 990. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. N. Wexler Successful Resume Fraud: Conjectures on the Origins of Amorality in the Workplace Journal of Human Values, October 1, 2006; 12(2): 137 - 152. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. D. Wexler, D. Branski, and E. Kerem War and children. JAMA, August 2, 2006; 296(5): 579 - 581. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. McAlister Acceptance of killing and homicide rates in nineteen nations Eur J Public Health, June 1, 2006; 16(3): 259 - 265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Gambrill Evidence-Based Practice and Policy: Choices Ahead Research on Social Work Practice, May 1, 2006; 16(3): 338 - 357. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. M. Novicevic, M. G. Harvey, M. Ronald, and J. A. Brown-Radford Authentic Leadership: A Historical Perspective Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, January 1, 2006; 13(1): 64 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. D. White Political Apathy Disorder: Proposal for a New DSM Diagnostic Category Journal of Humanistic Psychology, January 1, 2004; 44(1): 47 - 57. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. R. Forsyth, L. E. Zyzniewski, and C. A. Giammanco Responsibility Diffusion in Cooperative Collectives Pers Soc Psychol Bull, January 1, 2002; 28(1): 54 - 65. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. L. McAlister Moral Disengagement: Measurement and Modification Journal of Peace Research, January 1, 2001; 38(1): 87 - 99. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Darley Methods for the Study of Evil-Doing Actions Personality and Social Psychology Review, August 1, 1999; 3(3): 269 - 275. [Abstract] [PDF]